Now almost four decades later, the Ballyclare dance teacher is determined that everyone – regardless of physical or mental ability – can experience the thrill of moving to music. Victoria (41) from Ballyclare runs her own school First Dance NI which is most famous for helping nervous newly-weds prepare for their first dance. She has put hundreds of grateful couples through their paces so that they could wow their guests on their wedding day.
Her ballroom and Latin dance skills have also been in high demand over the years as a choreographer for locally produced charity versions of the BBC hit series Strictly Come Dancing. But in recent years Victoria has had a new focus. She is passionate about breaking down barriers to allow everyone to feel the joy of dance.
In 2020 she became the first person here to qualify in inclusive dance with Para Dance UK. Para Dance UK aims to develop and promote dance as a leisure activity across the country for those who would otherwise be excluded. Since qualifying as an instructor Victoria has teamed up with the brain injury charity Headway to give members weekly dance lessons.
She has also taken her new training into nursing and care homes across Northern Ireland using the power of music to take elderly people, including dementia patients back to the carefree days of their youth. “I have always wanted to bring dance classes to people who have physical impairments, it is just something I have felt passionate about for a long time so in 202.
